Road accident deaths in France shot up by nearly 4% final year, hitting a total of close to 3,400. And the French government is determined to avert them going up once again in 2015.
To that end, it has introduced a raft of measures made to quit men and women putting lives in danger by drink driving and utilizing their mobile phones at the wheel – one thing you will require to be conscious of if you are driving on French roads this year.
As nicely as lowering the legal alcohol limit for young drivers, the new regime bans the use of hands-free kits utilised by drivers to make calls at the wheel and lowers the age at which teenagers can commence driving beneath supervision.
France – a harmful place to drive
The number of folks who died on French roads in 2014 rose 3.7% year-on-year to a depressingly high 3,388.
Evaluate that to the 1,713 people killed on UK roads in 2013 (the most current year for which statistics are offered). France has a slightly larger population (66 million) than the UK (64 million) but it’s a larger landmass with a lot more roads, so you’d feel the quantity of fatalities would be on a par.
But probably the most telling statistic is that UK fatalities in 2013 in fact fell by 2.3%, and the lengthy term trend in the UK is downwards. Apart from 2011, deaths have fallen in quantity each year because 2004.
So why this evident French malaise.
Drinking difficulty
Maybe it plays to national stereotypes, but it turns out that alcohol-connected accidents came out as the quantity one killer in France.
And as a person who has spent years living in France, that does not come as a excellent surprise to me. French folks have a rather various attitude to us Brits when it comes to drink-driving.
Although getting behind the wheel when you’re tipsy right here is rapidly becoming a deep social taboo, it’s broadly accepted in France – or at least it is in the rural places exactly where I have spent most of my time.
That’s why I welcome efforts to crack down on drink driving. And I reckon the most powerful way to prevent alcohol-associated road deaths, at least in rural areas, would be to invest in much better public transport or find a way of lowering the usually astronomical expense of a taxi ride.
How the government is tackling the dilemma
In February, Bernard Cazeneuve, the French Interior Minister, announced particulars of no fewer than 26 measures developed to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities by 2020:
- Zero tolerance on alcohol for young drivers
The legal alcohol limit is getting slashed from .5mg/ml to .2mg/ml for young drivers, meaning even one particular half pint – the ubiquitous French “demi” – will push them more than.
- Breathalysers in late-night off licences
Shops selling alcohol between 2am and 7am should provide buyers breathalysers or face penalties and possible closure.
- Earphones and headsets no longer permitted
The use of all sorts of earphones, headsets and hands-totally free kits “that limit the interest of drivers” is getting banned for these in the driving seat.
- Much more “double-face” speed cameras
Whilst the quantity of speed cameras in France – 4,150 – is not set to rise, there will be a lot more “double-faced” speed cameras that can snare drivers travelling in each directions.
- Tinted windows to be banned
Only tinted windscreens are forbidden at the moment, but Cazeneuve intends to extend this ban to cover all car windows in the coming years.
- More space around pedestrian crossings
Only mopeds and motorbikes will be allowed to park within 5 metres of pedestrian crossings.
- Younger drivers on the roads
French teenagers as young as 15 will be capable to drive beneath supervision under the new guidelines.
To France?
If you are driving to France this year, make positive you verify what’s necessary and expected of you prior to you set off.
Spend distinct consideration to setting your headlights properly and carrying the appropriate equipment in case of an accident. You should also carry an authorized breathalyzer.
Full specifics can be found in this 2-portion report.
Driving in France? Regardez bien!
